Maternity and invalid chair



E. T. READ AND A. J. BARTZ.

MATERNITY AND INVALID CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12.1920.

Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. T. READ AND A. J BARTZ.

MATERNITY AND INVALID CHAIR;

APPLICATION men .IULY12,I920.

1,372,546. Patented Mar. 22, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

50 O I I views, the numeral indlcates the chair seat UNITED STATES EDWIN '12. READ AND ADOLPH J. BARTZ, or KELLER, 'rnxas.

MATERNITY AND INVALID CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pat t d M 1921 Application filed July 12, 1920. Serial No. 395,496.

object to provide a chair wherein the parts are capable of such wide range of adjustment as to particularly adapt it to theuse of invalids.

Another object is to provide achair which, in addition to its capability of adjustment and consequent comfort to the occupant,may

also be very compactly folded for convenience in transportation and storage. a

A still further object is the provision of a chair embodying the above mentioned desirable characteristics which shall be of simple construction and consequently economical in manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the

invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereinafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention. 3 Figure 1 represents. a side elevation of the im roved chair set up in operative position. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 rep-resentsa vertical longitudinal sectional view through the chair. a i Fig. 1 representsa side elevation of the chair in collapsed folded condition.

- Figs. 5 and 6 represent top plan and side elevational views, respectively, of a modified typeof foot rest designed for use in connection with the chair.- j j Fig.7 represents a perspective view of a su plemental back rest.

igs. 8 and Qrepresent top and side views respectively of the bracerod adjusting de' vice. j j Referring to the drawmg in detail, where in similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several which consists essentially of a-rigid sub stantially U-shaped portionin whlch is arranged and supported a depending spout or outlet 6. The rear or web portion of the rigid part of the seat is provided with laterally projecting pivot pins 7 which are mounted in the opposed and forwardly extending front legs 8 which latter are formed in sections hingedly connected together by hlnge joints 8" for convenience and compactness 1n folding the chair structure, as will hereinafter appear. The portion of the sectlonal legs which project above the seat 5 constitute the back of the chair and these portions above the hinge joints 8 are connected by the back rests 9 whereas the portions of the front supporting legs 8 below the pivotal mounting 7 for the seat are connected by an adequate number of connecting rods or braces 10.

The rear supporting legs 11 are arranged aga nst the inner surfaces of the front legs 8 and, when the chair is set up for use the front and rear legsare disposed in downwardly diverging relation. The upper forward extremities of the rear legs which cross the front legs 8 are pivotally connected at 12 tothe sides of the seat 5. The terminals of the uppermost connecting rod or brace 10 are extended beyond the side faces of the front legs 8 and are slidably mounted in longitudinal slots 13 formed in the medial portions of the rear legsll whereby the movement of the latter is guided during rel ative adjustment of the front and rear legs.

Adjustable bracing arms 14 are pivotally secured at 15 to the upper extremities of the upper leg sections 8 which, as will be understood, constitute the back of the chair, and the lower extremities of the arms are provided with a series of downwardly directed teeth 15which coact with hooks 16 projecting laterally from the lower portions of the rear legs 11 whereby to mamtain the adjustable back 17 in adjusted position. Re-

taining hooks 18 are pivotally secured at 19 to the upper edges of the rear legs 11 and the shanks 20of the pivots are arranged eccentrically with relation to the head portions thereof on which the hooks are mounted wherebythe latter are moved longitudinally during rotation of the pivotpins to cause the toothed portions of the arms l lto be reliably maintained in engagement with the hooks 16.

Springs 21are detachably connected at 22 tothe lower extremities of the rear legs and permanently attached at 23 in the apertured lower extremities of the arms "14 whereby the latter are resiliently maintained in engagement with the hooks 16. The rear Cir cured to the sides of the arm rests 24. The I hooks 26 are assisted in maintaining the arm rests in operative position by pivoted re-.

taining members 28 hingedly secured at 29 to the rear portions of the arm rests and engageable with theupper extremities of the front legs'S.

An adjustable foot rest designated generally by thenumeral ,30 is arranged for- 'wardly of and below the seat 5 and consists of rearwardly extending supporting members 31 having a series of spaced notches 32 therein selectively engageable with the uppermost brace or connecting rod 10 of the front legs 8 whereby the position of the foot rest- 30,- forwardly with relation to the seat 5, may be varied according to the requirements of theoccupant of the chair. The elevation of the foot rest may be varied as desired by' proper adjustment of the supporting arms 33 which are pivotally secured at 34 to the supporting rods or'members 31 and are notched'as indicated at 35 for engagementwiththe pins 1O carried by the front legs& I

A modified type of foot rest especially adapted for use in maternity cases is illustrated in detailin Figs. 5 and 6 and, when used ,.is designed to replace the foot rest 30 and supporting members therefor which latter may be conveniently detached from the chair structure when required. A pair of the I foot rests 37 is provided and each consists in a substantially hook-shaped arm engaging member 38. which is adapted to embrace the upperportion of one of the arm rests 24 of the chair andis pivotally and adjustably attached by means of a bolt and wing nut 39 with the forwardly extending and curved supporting member 40 which carries the foot rest 37 at its front extremity. The medial portion ofeach supporting member 40 is range of pivotally connected at 41 with a notched supporting arm 42adapted for adjustable engagement with one of the braces 10 of the chair structure for supporting the foot rest at the desired elevation. As suggested in F ig. 6, the dependin portion of the arm'engaging member 38 or eachfoot rest 37 is preferably provided with a series of vertically alined apertures 43 permitting vertical adjustment of the bolt 39 whereby a wide adjustment of the foot rest is afforded.

A supplemental back rest 44 of leather or like flexible material is provided at its terminals with hooks 45 adapted to embrace the upper edged portions of the arm rests 24 for maintaining the strap in adjusted position thereon.

During use of the improved chair, the same affords a comfortable support for the occupant and due to the wide range of adjustment of which the back 17 and foot rest are capable the positions thereof may be conveniently varied to support the body of the occupant in various inclined positions and the seat at a comfortable or required elevation. hen not in use the chair may be compactly folded as suggested in Fig. 4 and in carrying out this operation the arm rests 24 are first folded against the seat 5, subsequent to moving the retaining members 26 and 28 to inoperative position. The rear terminals of the springs 21 are subsequently detached from the pins 22 and the arms are disengaged from the hooks 16 then, the foot rest having been detached from the brace 10 or arm rests 24, according to the type of foot rest in use, the lower extremities of the front and rear legs 8 and 11, respectively, are moved together, said legs swinging upon the pivots 7 and 12 and the terminals of the uppermost brace 10 sliding longitudinally within the slots 13 until the back has assumed the compact relation disclosed in Fig. 4.

What we claim is:

1. A foldable chair structure including supporting legs, a seat secured to the legs, a back rest hingedly connected with certain of the legs, toothed supporting arms pivotally connected with the back rest, means carried by other of said legs for coaction with the teeth of the arms for supporting the back rest in adjusted position, detachable means normally maintaining the toothed portions of the arms in engagement with the last mentioned means, and means for drawing and positively locking the toothed portions of the arms into engagement with'the last mentioned means.

2. A chair structure including supporting legs, a seat supported thereon, braces con necting certain of the legs, one of the braces providing a pivotal and slidable connection between the legs, notched supporting bars engageable with the last mentioned brace, a foot rest carried by the front extremities of the bars, and notched supporting arms connected with the bars and engageable with certain of the legs for adjustably supporting the footrest at various elevations.

3. A foldable chair structure including supporting legs, a seat secured to the legs,

a back rest hingedly connected with certain of the legs, toothed supporting arms pivotally connected with the back rest, means carried by other of said legs for coaction with the teeth of the arms for supporting the back rest in various reclining positions,

spring means normally tending to move the toothed portions of the supporting arms in engagement with the first mentioned means, and means detachably connecting the last mentioned means with certain of the legs whereby the terminals of the last mentioned means may be disengaged incident to folding of the chair.

4. A foldable chair structure including supporting legs, a seat secured to said legs, a back rest hingedly connected with certain of the legs, toothed supporting arms pivotally connected with the back rest, hooks car ried by other of said legs for ooaction with the teeth of the arms for supporting the back rest in adjusted position, spring means normally retaining the toothed portions of the arms in engagement with said hooks, a detachable connection between the terminals of the spring means and the last mentioned legs permitting the spring means to be disengaged therefrom incident to folding of the chair, pivoted hooks engageable with the toothed portions of the arms, and means coacting with said pivoted hooks for actuating the latter to lock the toothed portions of the arms in engagement with the first mentioned hooks.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures hereto.

EDW'IN T. READ. ADOLPH J. BARTZ. 

